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Pluto's Snitch #3
The Specter of Seduction
Waverly Mansion, a unique and lovely antebellum home in northeast Mississippi, offers the most dangerous challenge yet to Raissa James and her partner in the Pluto’s Snitch private detective agency. They specialize in hauntings, possessions, and the occult.
In the isolation of Waverley, Raissa’s special gift, her ability to see and communicate with the dead, puts a target on her back. The entity that resides at Waverley Mansion covets Raissa’s sensitivity. But Raissa is not the only one in danger. She and her partner Reginald Proctor must save eight-year-old Amanda Sheridan from the dark forces roaming the grounds of Waverley.
The bitter past plays a major role in the nightmare of the present—and Raissa and Reginald must find the answers to who—or what--was Nora Bailey, a woman reputed to be not only a Union spy in the heart of the South, but also one whose promiscuity put the men who loved her at risk.
Raissa and Reginald can trust no one—especially not the dead--because the dead lie.
In the isolation of Waverley, Raissa’s special gift, her ability to see and communicate with the dead, puts a target on her back. The entity that resides at Waverley Mansion covets Raissa’s sensitivity. But Raissa is not the only one in danger. She and her partner Reginald Proctor must save eight-year-old Amanda Sheridan from the dark forces roaming the grounds of Waverley.
The bitter past plays a major role in the nightmare of the present—and Raissa and Reginald must find the answers to who—or what--was Nora Bailey, a woman reputed to be not only a Union spy in the heart of the South, but also one whose promiscuity put the men who loved her at risk.
Raissa and Reginald can trust no one—especially not the dead--because the dead lie.
350 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2017
About the author
Carolyn Haines
112 books1,607 followersCarolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of over 70 books. In 2020, she was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. She was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Library Association, the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, as well as the "Best Amateur Sleuth" award by Romantic Times. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives in Alabama on a farm with more dogs, cats, and horses than she can possibly keep track of.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 20, 2017
The third book in the Pluto's Snitch series is completely engrossing. I started it Friday night and finished it at 5:30 am Saturday morning. I couldn't find a place to stop and go to sleep. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.
Raissa and Reginald are called to Waverly House to help the Sheridan's parents of 8 year old, Amanda and new owners of the plantation. Because of it's isolated location there's no other children for Amanda to play with so she's befriended, Polly, the ghost of a little girl who died there during the Civil War. Polly wants the truth behind her death revealed so she can move on. However, there's a catch. It seems there's another ghost haunting Waverly and this one is a woman with dark plans. It's up to Raissa and Reginald to help Polly and banish Nora , who is more than they realize.
Tense, tight plotting had me turning pages until the end and then sorry when it ended that I'll have to wait for the next adventure
Raissa and Reginald are called to Waverly House to help the Sheridan's parents of 8 year old, Amanda and new owners of the plantation. Because of it's isolated location there's no other children for Amanda to play with so she's befriended, Polly, the ghost of a little girl who died there during the Civil War. Polly wants the truth behind her death revealed so she can move on. However, there's a catch. It seems there's another ghost haunting Waverly and this one is a woman with dark plans. It's up to Raissa and Reginald to help Polly and banish Nora , who is more than they realize.
Tense, tight plotting had me turning pages until the end and then sorry when it ended that I'll have to wait for the next adventure
November 3, 2017
I read this book as a beta reader, I don't usually read spooky books, but I like Carolyn Haines other books and I was lucky enough to be chosen. Wow! all I can say is wow! It was so good, I couldn't put it down. There needs to be a new category called horror/cozy mystery 'cause that's what it was. I don't usually read horror or spooky stories because I scare easily but this was scary yet compelling, not gory and had a great mystery involved as well. The characters were well drawn and you became involved with them right away. There was never a time when I felt like, oh, I'm just going to put this down for a while. Hell no! I couldn't put it down!
November 3, 2017
This is the third book in the Pluto’s Snitch series. I read it on a plane and it was a good thing the flight was long because I had no intention of stopping to put the book down until I finished reading it. It was an amazing book!! Raissa and Reginald are called to Waverley House in Mississippi to help an eight year old girl at the request of her parents. Seems Amanda has a friend, Polly the ghost of a little girl who died there during the Civil War. The Sheridan family has moved to Waverley Mansion and they are working on bringing it back to its former glorious state. It is very isolated and haunted there by a woman that is an evil force. Raissa and Reginald need to dig into history to get answers and banishing Nora is going to be harder than they thought.
I could feel those yellow flies and that Mississippi heat and hear the hoof beats as I read.
Suspenseful, spooky, twists and turns, surprising and totally kept me engrossed.
Can’t wait for the next adventure of Raissa and Reginald!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I could feel those yellow flies and that Mississippi heat and hear the hoof beats as I read.
Suspenseful, spooky, twists and turns, surprising and totally kept me engrossed.
Can’t wait for the next adventure of Raissa and Reginald!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
March 9, 2018
Specter of Seduction (KaliOka Press November 2017), the third book in Carolyn Haines’ Pluto Snitch series, has a most rare thing: a nearly perfect ending. Carolyn spins a Southern Gothic ghost story so wonderfully complex that the human villains are finally exposed on the last pages in a manner that though wholly unforeseeable nonetheless makes perfect sense. That is, the climactic end was unforeseeable, yet somehow inevitable.
The human villains aside though, the Specter of Seduction is primarily an old-fashioned, well-done, edge-of-your-seat haunted house story—one that will have you mentally yelling at Raissa, the main character: Do not go back inside that house.
As with the prior novels in the series, the protagonist, twenty-something Raissa James, is a former school teacher, a budding author, a war widow—and an investigator into the spirit world. Raissa can see the dead. She is aided in her adventures into the spectral world by Reginald Proctor, her partner in their spanking-new private investigation agency, Pluto’s Snitch. As Reginald explained in a prior book, House of Memory, “For those who aren’t familiar with the slang of the day, snitch means private investigator, and for those who enjoy mythology, Pluto was the god who ruled the land of the dead. Hence our clever name!”
Armed with her inherited gift of seeing the dead, plus her quick and curious mind, Raissa has traveled to Waverly Mansion in Mississippi, with Reginald in tow. (A quick footnote: Waverly is an actual restored antebellum house near West Point, MS, which is believed to be haunted by several ghosts, and the house and grounds are opened to the public). Raissa and Reginald have been asked to stay at the mansion and try to help a troubled and precocious girl. This child, Amanda, seems far too mature for her tender age, and appears to be possessed at times, or at least befriend by a ghost named Nan.
Amanda’s father is a bootlegger (the book is set during prohibition) and her mother a sweet, but frail woman of surprisingly staid cultural beliefs given her husband’s line of illegal work. A governess, a horse trainer, a gardener and cook who both used to be slaves on the plantation, and a host of reappearing college students who trespass seeking sexual adventures round out the primary cast.
But equal in importance—and intrigue—are the former residents of Waverly, now all long dead. A tragic back story of this family is gradually revealed which explains the ghost Nan—but not the second and by far more malevolent spirit. A demon more than a ghost, this second spirit threatens to possess Amanda or Raissa. As Raissa fights in the spirit realm to save both herself and the child, a college student is murdered, followed quickly by a second savage murder. Raissa fears she is facing both a violently strong succubus and a violent human killer.
Carolyn Haines is a gifted story teller, who writes with a direct, crisp style at once lyrical and clear. As the menace and dangers build, the pacing and suspense increase exponentially. And, when the suspense and characters are so compelling, as in Specter of Seduction, one might lose track of the fine quality of the writing itself. But this is a book that shines with refined, sharp prose. Haines has a poet’s ear for language and knows how to utilize words to set a tone, evoke a feeling, and to capture a moment.
This is a great read—one you will not be able to put down once you start.
The human villains aside though, the Specter of Seduction is primarily an old-fashioned, well-done, edge-of-your-seat haunted house story—one that will have you mentally yelling at Raissa, the main character: Do not go back inside that house.
As with the prior novels in the series, the protagonist, twenty-something Raissa James, is a former school teacher, a budding author, a war widow—and an investigator into the spirit world. Raissa can see the dead. She is aided in her adventures into the spectral world by Reginald Proctor, her partner in their spanking-new private investigation agency, Pluto’s Snitch. As Reginald explained in a prior book, House of Memory, “For those who aren’t familiar with the slang of the day, snitch means private investigator, and for those who enjoy mythology, Pluto was the god who ruled the land of the dead. Hence our clever name!”
Armed with her inherited gift of seeing the dead, plus her quick and curious mind, Raissa has traveled to Waverly Mansion in Mississippi, with Reginald in tow. (A quick footnote: Waverly is an actual restored antebellum house near West Point, MS, which is believed to be haunted by several ghosts, and the house and grounds are opened to the public). Raissa and Reginald have been asked to stay at the mansion and try to help a troubled and precocious girl. This child, Amanda, seems far too mature for her tender age, and appears to be possessed at times, or at least befriend by a ghost named Nan.
Amanda’s father is a bootlegger (the book is set during prohibition) and her mother a sweet, but frail woman of surprisingly staid cultural beliefs given her husband’s line of illegal work. A governess, a horse trainer, a gardener and cook who both used to be slaves on the plantation, and a host of reappearing college students who trespass seeking sexual adventures round out the primary cast.
But equal in importance—and intrigue—are the former residents of Waverly, now all long dead. A tragic back story of this family is gradually revealed which explains the ghost Nan—but not the second and by far more malevolent spirit. A demon more than a ghost, this second spirit threatens to possess Amanda or Raissa. As Raissa fights in the spirit realm to save both herself and the child, a college student is murdered, followed quickly by a second savage murder. Raissa fears she is facing both a violently strong succubus and a violent human killer.
Carolyn Haines is a gifted story teller, who writes with a direct, crisp style at once lyrical and clear. As the menace and dangers build, the pacing and suspense increase exponentially. And, when the suspense and characters are so compelling, as in Specter of Seduction, one might lose track of the fine quality of the writing itself. But this is a book that shines with refined, sharp prose. Haines has a poet’s ear for language and knows how to utilize words to set a tone, evoke a feeling, and to capture a moment.
This is a great read—one you will not be able to put down once you start.
November 8, 2017
The Specter of Seduction by Carolyn Haines was an enthralling book. Although I hadn't read the previous books in this series I never felt lost as Ms. Haines narrative gave me enough of Raissa and Reginald's story that I felt like I knew them as the story progressed.
This was a complicated story with action, intrigue and some creepy entities that kept me turning the pages to find out exactly what and "who" was behind the unusual and deadly events that are transpiring at Waverly Mansion. As the danger escalated I found myself totally gripping my Kindle tightly as Raissa and Reginald face their most dangerous foe yet! With complex twists and characters that are more than they seem the dramatic reveal left me breathless.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
This was a complicated story with action, intrigue and some creepy entities that kept me turning the pages to find out exactly what and "who" was behind the unusual and deadly events that are transpiring at Waverly Mansion. As the danger escalated I found myself totally gripping my Kindle tightly as Raissa and Reginald face their most dangerous foe yet! With complex twists and characters that are more than they seem the dramatic reveal left me breathless.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
November 3, 2017
The Spector of Seduction by Carolyn Haines
The Pluto's Snitch Detective Agency is on their second case of a haunted Waverly Mansion outside of West Point, Mississippi. Mrs. Anne Sheridan sent a letter to Raissa James and Reginald Proctor wanting their detection services to help the family with the strange events in their newly renovated mansion in this third rollicking book. Raissa James and Reginald Proctor thinks there is more to the story after meeting the Sheridans and their young daughter, Amanda. She displays advanced musicial abilities, excellent horse riding skills, and a very mature outlook for an eight year child. She has a very interesting friend, Nan, who loves to be with her when she is out riding her horse, Moonglow in the nearby woods. Could Nan be behind of all the paranormal activities at the mansion?
Raissa and Reginald encountered some strange happenings at the mansion and the surrounding woods that includes murder. They discovered the previous homeowners, the Norquists had a tragic past with their family during the Civil War that included betrayal, death, and the supernatural. This history continues to live through Waverly Mansion that involves the Sheridans. Amanda's father, Royal Sheridan has a thriving bootlegging business going on during the Prohibition that he will protect at all costs. Amanda's mother, Anne Sherdan is experencing some menta health issues along with Amanda's sudden outlandish behavioral issues. Could there be an unseen supernatural force at work at Waverly Mansion or a flesh and blood killer on the loose?
Ms. Haines is an excellent storyteller of the Celtic variety. She weaves a tight suspenseful tale with very likeable characters with very interesting plotlines. Raissa is a very intellegent and resilient woman who wants to be a writer and yet she has her own spiritual detective business with Reginald, which is unheard of for women in the 1920s. Carolyn did an outstanding job on the research for the time period in the South some sixty years after the War Between The States and the Roaring 1920s. I did learn some very interesting facts about the war and how women were treated during this time period with the Pluto Snitch Detective series.
This book has plenty of surprising twists and turns of a well written mystery. I was shocked on how quickly the ending of this thrilling tale. The reader can read this stand alone story by itself, however, I definitely recommend to read the first book of the series, "The Book of Beloved" and the second book of "The House of Memory" to get know the characters. These two books are excellent read as well as this gem of a third book.
This is an outstanding book series that is very well written with a carefully crafted storyline with very entertaining characters. I cannot wait for the fourth installment of the Pluto's Snitch Detective glorious adventures.
I was given an ARC for a honest book review.
The Pluto's Snitch Detective Agency is on their second case of a haunted Waverly Mansion outside of West Point, Mississippi. Mrs. Anne Sheridan sent a letter to Raissa James and Reginald Proctor wanting their detection services to help the family with the strange events in their newly renovated mansion in this third rollicking book. Raissa James and Reginald Proctor thinks there is more to the story after meeting the Sheridans and their young daughter, Amanda. She displays advanced musicial abilities, excellent horse riding skills, and a very mature outlook for an eight year child. She has a very interesting friend, Nan, who loves to be with her when she is out riding her horse, Moonglow in the nearby woods. Could Nan be behind of all the paranormal activities at the mansion?
Raissa and Reginald encountered some strange happenings at the mansion and the surrounding woods that includes murder. They discovered the previous homeowners, the Norquists had a tragic past with their family during the Civil War that included betrayal, death, and the supernatural. This history continues to live through Waverly Mansion that involves the Sheridans. Amanda's father, Royal Sheridan has a thriving bootlegging business going on during the Prohibition that he will protect at all costs. Amanda's mother, Anne Sherdan is experencing some menta health issues along with Amanda's sudden outlandish behavioral issues. Could there be an unseen supernatural force at work at Waverly Mansion or a flesh and blood killer on the loose?
Ms. Haines is an excellent storyteller of the Celtic variety. She weaves a tight suspenseful tale with very likeable characters with very interesting plotlines. Raissa is a very intellegent and resilient woman who wants to be a writer and yet she has her own spiritual detective business with Reginald, which is unheard of for women in the 1920s. Carolyn did an outstanding job on the research for the time period in the South some sixty years after the War Between The States and the Roaring 1920s. I did learn some very interesting facts about the war and how women were treated during this time period with the Pluto Snitch Detective series.
This book has plenty of surprising twists and turns of a well written mystery. I was shocked on how quickly the ending of this thrilling tale. The reader can read this stand alone story by itself, however, I definitely recommend to read the first book of the series, "The Book of Beloved" and the second book of "The House of Memory" to get know the characters. These two books are excellent read as well as this gem of a third book.
This is an outstanding book series that is very well written with a carefully crafted storyline with very entertaining characters. I cannot wait for the fourth installment of the Pluto's Snitch Detective glorious adventures.
I was given an ARC for a honest book review.
October 30, 2017
Raissa James and Reginald Proctor take on a spirit of a different sort in “The Specter of Seduction,” the third novel in the “Pluto’s Snitch” series by Carolyn Haines. The author and her wicked imagination again take readers back in time through carefully detailed research and descriptive dialogue.
The historic fiction series focuses on an unlikely pair who have found they have a knack for helping those plagued by unwanted entities whether they be living or dead. In their latest adventure, Raissa and Reginald, partners in the Pluto’s Snitch detective agency, have been asked to investigate a young girl’s invisible playmate named Polly. However, all is not quite what it appears to be at Waverley House, a once prospering plantation in northeast Mississippi.
At times, Amanda, the daughter of Royal and Ann Sheridan, acts much older than her 8 years. The mansion and grounds under renovation are isolated from the nearby town, but the area is known as a hot spot for college-age lovers. It’s rumored that young women became aggressively amorous, so couples are willing to risk the wrath of the shotgun-toting property owner. When a man is found dead in the woods, Royal Sheridan is arrested for the murder based on the eye witness account of a mysterious young woman.
Raissa and Reginald soon discover that sexual appetites aren’t just for the young. They encounter the spirit of Nora Bailey, a woman hanged for spying against the Confederacy. The mysteries at Waverley don’t stop with her, though. Raissa, who is “sensitive” to spirits, encounters an evil spirit who wants to take over her body. It’s up to those close to Raissa to try and save her body and soul.
While the Pluto Snitch novels are Haines’ lastest series, ghost stories aren’t new for this prolific writer. The Alabama transplant with Mississippi roots is well known for her “Bones” books and Sara Booth Delaney, the “Fear Familiar: series, and other writings under the pen name of R.B Chesterton. No matter which one of Haines’ books grabs their attention, readers can be sure that the female protagonist are strong, determined and “live” in the moment, whether past or present.
The historic fiction series focuses on an unlikely pair who have found they have a knack for helping those plagued by unwanted entities whether they be living or dead. In their latest adventure, Raissa and Reginald, partners in the Pluto’s Snitch detective agency, have been asked to investigate a young girl’s invisible playmate named Polly. However, all is not quite what it appears to be at Waverley House, a once prospering plantation in northeast Mississippi.
At times, Amanda, the daughter of Royal and Ann Sheridan, acts much older than her 8 years. The mansion and grounds under renovation are isolated from the nearby town, but the area is known as a hot spot for college-age lovers. It’s rumored that young women became aggressively amorous, so couples are willing to risk the wrath of the shotgun-toting property owner. When a man is found dead in the woods, Royal Sheridan is arrested for the murder based on the eye witness account of a mysterious young woman.
Raissa and Reginald soon discover that sexual appetites aren’t just for the young. They encounter the spirit of Nora Bailey, a woman hanged for spying against the Confederacy. The mysteries at Waverley don’t stop with her, though. Raissa, who is “sensitive” to spirits, encounters an evil spirit who wants to take over her body. It’s up to those close to Raissa to try and save her body and soul.
While the Pluto Snitch novels are Haines’ lastest series, ghost stories aren’t new for this prolific writer. The Alabama transplant with Mississippi roots is well known for her “Bones” books and Sara Booth Delaney, the “Fear Familiar: series, and other writings under the pen name of R.B Chesterton. No matter which one of Haines’ books grabs their attention, readers can be sure that the female protagonist are strong, determined and “live” in the moment, whether past or present.
October 26, 2017
With THE SPECTER OF SECUCTION, Carolyn Haines once again pens a riveting tale of malicious evil redolent of the South in the years after World War I. Haines’ writing if full of atmosphere that really drew me into the story and made me feel like I was there with Raissa and Reginald as they discovered what was wrong with eight year old Amanda and how to help her, as well as when Raissa fought the greater battle for her own life.
The story of Waverly Mansion in Mississippi is a twisted, heartbreaking tale dating back to the Civil War. Full of love, anguish, bitterness, treason, and loss, this story left me haunted long after the ghosts were gone to the other side. The story is well paced and the building tension compelled me to read “just one more chapter”, racing to the end. There is just the right amount of creepiness to give readers some chills. The characters are well developed and individual; there is not a cookie cutter stereotype in the lot.
I relished every word of THE SPECTER OF SEDUCTION and cannot wait to read more adventures of Raissa and Reginald. This is one of my best reads of the year – highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
The story of Waverly Mansion in Mississippi is a twisted, heartbreaking tale dating back to the Civil War. Full of love, anguish, bitterness, treason, and loss, this story left me haunted long after the ghosts were gone to the other side. The story is well paced and the building tension compelled me to read “just one more chapter”, racing to the end. There is just the right amount of creepiness to give readers some chills. The characters are well developed and individual; there is not a cookie cutter stereotype in the lot.
I relished every word of THE SPECTER OF SEDUCTION and cannot wait to read more adventures of Raissa and Reginald. This is one of my best reads of the year – highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
November 6, 2017
What an interesting ride. Carolyn Haines has a real gift for storytelling, and this volume is no exception. Raissa and Reginald get involved in a dicey case, and narrowly escape many terrible situations. Raissa deals with the rampant misogyny better than I could. I'd be tossed into a cell after I would've subjected that bloody sheriff to a verbal beating he would never hope to understand without the aid of a dictionary and a whole set of encyclopedias. Raissa, wisely, held her tongue with great trouble. The twists and turns of the plot had me riveted. Other than a mild editing issue, the story was excellent. I think the publisher needs to light a fire under their copy editors. Mistakes like I saw should never be a part of the professionally published book. It does not detract from the story, but the near-English major balks at these errors. It is my cross to bear. Don't miss this story. It is part of an excellent series that I hope continues for a good long while.
January 7, 2018
Seduction is the perfect word in the title of Haines's latest Southern Gothic tour de force. If you aren't seduced by the ghosts and goblins and marvelous well-wrought characters in this book, I'm worried about you. And there is plenty of seduction in a variety of types to go around.
With names like Coralee, Constance, Raissa, Reginald, and Waverly Mansion, Mississippi's deep, beautiful woods, a possessed wild child, mosquitoes the size of B-52s, and a rich plot, the Deep South and tension are on every page. It was impossible for me to read it a leisurely pace as I wanted to see where the plot was going, so once I drew a deep breath and closed the book to get my heart beating at a normal rhythm again, I put the book aside for a few days. Then I returned to a slower paced read to fully absorb the well-researched background and history that make Haines's books always a delightful reading experience.
With names like Coralee, Constance, Raissa, Reginald, and Waverly Mansion, Mississippi's deep, beautiful woods, a possessed wild child, mosquitoes the size of B-52s, and a rich plot, the Deep South and tension are on every page. It was impossible for me to read it a leisurely pace as I wanted to see where the plot was going, so once I drew a deep breath and closed the book to get my heart beating at a normal rhythm again, I put the book aside for a few days. Then I returned to a slower paced read to fully absorb the well-researched background and history that make Haines's books always a delightful reading experience.
January 23, 2019
THE SPECTER OF SEDUCTION by Carolyn Haines
The Third Pluto's Snitch Mystery
Waverly Mansion was a marvel of architecture and a glorious old plantation until the Civil War and the actions of a Southern Belle destroyed everything. Called to the mansion to help the current owners, Raissa and Reginald travel to Mississippi. It seems the couple's daughter is acting more mature than her eight years. She also has an imaginary friend who may not be so imaginary. Dealing with college students trespassing on the property to fool around and a child acting older than her years is just the start. Raissa will have to uncover the truth of Union spy Nora Bradley. Was she really the evil temptress who wrought the destruction of the Norquist family and who still seeks to claim Waverly as her own? Or is there something older, something even more powerful, that seeks to possess not only Waverly, but Raissa, body and soul.
Set in the 1920s THE SPECTER OF SEDUCTION is a historical mystery, but it's a double historical in that Raissa has to delve further into the past, solving what for her is a historical mystery to go along with her modern one. What I found thrilling is that she spoke with two characters who were actually alive during the Civil War, one of whom was once a slave. Instead of relying on legend, Raissa talked with people who actually knew Nora and witnessed what happened, the veritable destruction of a family.
Carolyn Haines is a master of creating a Gothic ambiance in her Pluto's Snitch mysteries. Oppressive heat and bloodsucking insects add to the stifling unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds Waverly. Despite the amazing architecture and current renovations the mansion makes you want to flee. The lack of electricity and telephone service along with its remote location adds to the isolation which increases both anxiety and danger. I love old abandoned buildings and have enjoyed exploring old mental institutions and haunted locations, but I would give Waverly a wide berth! Carolyn Haines has created a house tainted by its past, possessed by its present, and I don't even care to be part of its future! It's a location I'm glad is fictional.
The juxtaposition of evil spirits versus the evil done by man is at the heart of this book. There's much more to Waverly than meets the eye and it's fascinating to see Raissa peel back the layers. While a powerful entity seems to be the root of the problems, it's much more than that. Something human is equally as evil as the demon. In order to find peace, the truth must be revealed, the whole truth.
I absolutely loved THE SPECTER OF SEDUCTION. Ingeniously plotted, it's a haunting, eerie, and pulse pounding mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
The Third Pluto's Snitch Mystery
Waverly Mansion was a marvel of architecture and a glorious old plantation until the Civil War and the actions of a Southern Belle destroyed everything. Called to the mansion to help the current owners, Raissa and Reginald travel to Mississippi. It seems the couple's daughter is acting more mature than her eight years. She also has an imaginary friend who may not be so imaginary. Dealing with college students trespassing on the property to fool around and a child acting older than her years is just the start. Raissa will have to uncover the truth of Union spy Nora Bradley. Was she really the evil temptress who wrought the destruction of the Norquist family and who still seeks to claim Waverly as her own? Or is there something older, something even more powerful, that seeks to possess not only Waverly, but Raissa, body and soul.
Set in the 1920s THE SPECTER OF SEDUCTION is a historical mystery, but it's a double historical in that Raissa has to delve further into the past, solving what for her is a historical mystery to go along with her modern one. What I found thrilling is that she spoke with two characters who were actually alive during the Civil War, one of whom was once a slave. Instead of relying on legend, Raissa talked with people who actually knew Nora and witnessed what happened, the veritable destruction of a family.
Carolyn Haines is a master of creating a Gothic ambiance in her Pluto's Snitch mysteries. Oppressive heat and bloodsucking insects add to the stifling unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds Waverly. Despite the amazing architecture and current renovations the mansion makes you want to flee. The lack of electricity and telephone service along with its remote location adds to the isolation which increases both anxiety and danger. I love old abandoned buildings and have enjoyed exploring old mental institutions and haunted locations, but I would give Waverly a wide berth! Carolyn Haines has created a house tainted by its past, possessed by its present, and I don't even care to be part of its future! It's a location I'm glad is fictional.
The juxtaposition of evil spirits versus the evil done by man is at the heart of this book. There's much more to Waverly than meets the eye and it's fascinating to see Raissa peel back the layers. While a powerful entity seems to be the root of the problems, it's much more than that. Something human is equally as evil as the demon. In order to find peace, the truth must be revealed, the whole truth.
I absolutely loved THE SPECTER OF SEDUCTION. Ingeniously plotted, it's a haunting, eerie, and pulse pounding mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
October 26, 2017
I was given a Beta E Book to review of this. What a terrific book!! Sexy and seductive. Scintillating and mesmerizing. Carolyn takes spooky to new heights here. Raissa James and her partner in the Pluto's Snitch private detective agency, Reginald Proctor have been summoned to Waverly Mansion to save eight year old Amanda Sheridan from the dark forces at Waverly. It's hot in Mississippi and the yellow flies are vicious blood suckers. Waverly Mansion is very isolated. It had been left to ruin and the Sheridan family is now living there and working on bringing it back to it's former glory. The whole area is haunted by Civil War dead. But the entities at Waverly mean harm, especially to eight year old Amanda and Raissa. Raissa immediately senses the sadness and acute loss there. Reginald and Raissa have to find out why Amanda is being haunted and put a stop to it before she is harmed any further. They must also find out what exactly happened at Waverly with Nora Bailey, who was reputed to be a Union spy in the middle of the Confederacy and how her promiscuity harmed the men she was involved with in life. They must also save Raissa from being taken over by the promiscuous ghost who needs her live body to continue her destruction. Raissa has a real fight on her hands to save herself from destruction. The ghost uses Raissa's sensitivity and mourning of her husband, Alex, to try to seduce Raissa to get what she wants. Since there are no modern conveniences at Waverly, help is not always available. They have to go into town to use a telephone. Raissa and Reginald can only trust each other. Ghosts will lie and cannot be trusted. Sometimes the living cannot be trusted either. The atmosphere of the oppressive Southern summer heat in the post World War I years, the overgrown woods on the property, the entities who want a hold on the living and a child who is being haunted as well as a sensitive young woman who sees all the entities, creates a deliciously spooky feeling to the story. I found the book very hard to put down and finished it in 24 hours.
November 8, 2017
I loved this book! The story is so well-planned, that I thought I had it all figured out early. And I couldn't have been more wrong! I thought that the lady who had always been in love with one of the brothers killed a person, and had the important key painting to solving the mystery, hidden in her house and that Nora was really a "bad seed," with occult help recruited for her sneaky endeavors, and playing as a "Jezebel," was a game played just for spite. And I really believed that the child ghost might be evil, and controlling, and that the horse was most likely possessed. And I also suspected that the new hired hand, shot a young man. And I even suspected the sheriff and the politician as wanting to stop the politician's son from getting into trouble occasionally, and wanting to stop bailing him out of trouble once and for all. Then...SURPRISE!!! The author got at least five good ones over on me! (More than ten, if you take all of my wrong guesses into account!) This is definitely one, if not THE BEST mystery that I have ever read!!! And I thought the author's "Bones," and "Trouble," books were awesome, but this one blew them all away!!! Kudos! Well done! I was completely sideswiped, and I didn't have anything guessed right--I even believed that one of the daughters had been possessed or set up when rumors flew that she killed her own daughter...WOW, was I wrong on all accounts! And, author Carolyn Haines, managed to wrap it all up in one great big beautiful bow at the end! Congratulations, on a mystery to top all mysteries! Kudos! I will definitely be looking for more books in this series, it was deliciously suspenseful, and well-designed and planned! Thank you, Carolyn for writing such a great mystery book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2017
Why are horny college students sneaking around a secluded Southern estate? Why is a young girl’s behavior scaring her parents? What secrets are hidden in the backwoods of Mississippi? This latest entry in the Pluto’s Snitch series is creepy and intriguing and just a haunting good time. Raisa and Reginald, who are trying to get back home, are once again diverted from their return by a cry for help from a family in the midst of a first-class haunting.
The family lives in a Civil War era mansion which has a reputation for an evil presence with an amazingly seductive aura. Several entities, both human and ethereal haunt this family. Even Raisa is endangered, learning she is quite vulnerable to the powerful spirits and subject to their control.
The setting is creepy and fascinating. As the history of the house and its original owners are revealed we clue in to who is haunting this family. The past is deftly woven into the present revealing spies, earlier demonic possession and debauchery.
Raissa and Reginald’s friends and family, never far from their thoughts, are reintroduced as they come to the rescue. I love the Southern gothic flavor and the unexpected, yet skillfully wrought, twists in the mystery. The team’s prowess as hunters of the supernatural is growing, yet still undeveloped. Especially fun is that Haines leaves us knowing there is another adventure on the horizon. A really fun read!
The family lives in a Civil War era mansion which has a reputation for an evil presence with an amazingly seductive aura. Several entities, both human and ethereal haunt this family. Even Raisa is endangered, learning she is quite vulnerable to the powerful spirits and subject to their control.
The setting is creepy and fascinating. As the history of the house and its original owners are revealed we clue in to who is haunting this family. The past is deftly woven into the present revealing spies, earlier demonic possession and debauchery.
Raissa and Reginald’s friends and family, never far from their thoughts, are reintroduced as they come to the rescue. I love the Southern gothic flavor and the unexpected, yet skillfully wrought, twists in the mystery. The team’s prowess as hunters of the supernatural is growing, yet still undeveloped. Especially fun is that Haines leaves us knowing there is another adventure on the horizon. A really fun read!
November 7, 2017
In this book Raissa and Reginald are headed to Waverly Mansion where a young girl Amanda Sheridan is being haunted by a young spirit named Nan who can't rest until her story is told. This takes some digging from Raissa and Reginald as Nan was from a long time ago and the duo have to search old records to find out what happened. What they discover is that Nan was a unwanted child who spent her time observing people. While investigating that mystery they discover Nora Bailey a Union Spy who caused the previous family nothing but death. Was Nora connected to Nan? Why is she haunting Waverly house? Is there something more to this mystery?
I loved this book it was like The Conjuring circa 1920's. I loved how Raissa and Reginald had to really search for the clues regarding what really happened way back when. This book was one you definitely couldn't put down as there was so much mystery to it along with the history of the house and family.
I loved watching how the duo work together and are really in-sync with each other and have each others back in this spooky tale. It was great seeing how they pieced together what happened and worked towards solving the situation and not putting people in harm.
Definitely a great book for those who enjoy a tale of ghost and mysterious houses that have deep mystery. Also good for those who enjoy history and what people may have gone through back in the day. I can't wait to see what is next for Raissa and Reginald!
I loved this book it was like The Conjuring circa 1920's. I loved how Raissa and Reginald had to really search for the clues regarding what really happened way back when. This book was one you definitely couldn't put down as there was so much mystery to it along with the history of the house and family.
I loved watching how the duo work together and are really in-sync with each other and have each others back in this spooky tale. It was great seeing how they pieced together what happened and worked towards solving the situation and not putting people in harm.
Definitely a great book for those who enjoy a tale of ghost and mysterious houses that have deep mystery. Also good for those who enjoy history and what people may have gone through back in the day. I can't wait to see what is next for Raissa and Reginald!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2017
WOW, this third installment of Pluto’s Snitch Series had me from the gates of the mansion, to the exceptional end. I don't feel it is fair to those who are thinking about reading the book to give away too much. As with all of Carolyn Haines books, the writing captures the reader and engulfs them in the story. I felt like I was watching Raissa Reginald and all the characters as they battled for life and fought the spector of the lady that was once a Union Spy. I found that my heart went out to little Amanda, possessed and turning into a frightening creature.
I love paranormal stories, mysteries, and Southern Cozies. This book is the enmeshment of all those and so much more. I think the literary world will need to come up with a new “category” for Ms. Haines Pluto’s Snitch Books. I have enjoyed Carolyn Haines works for some time now. However, this one had me wanting to read and savor every single word. I took the book with when I had to go to work and couldn't wait for breaks so I could read more. I do have one little warning. If you read this book before bed, you a want to make sure you have a night light that works!
I was the lucky recipient of an advanced copy, a Beta Reader for this book. However, this “review” is true...I enjoyed this book immensely. If you haven't read Carolyn Haines books...be kind to yourself and try her books...you will be very happy you did.
I love paranormal stories, mysteries, and Southern Cozies. This book is the enmeshment of all those and so much more. I think the literary world will need to come up with a new “category” for Ms. Haines Pluto’s Snitch Books. I have enjoyed Carolyn Haines works for some time now. However, this one had me wanting to read and savor every single word. I took the book with when I had to go to work and couldn't wait for breaks so I could read more. I do have one little warning. If you read this book before bed, you a want to make sure you have a night light that works!
I was the lucky recipient of an advanced copy, a Beta Reader for this book. However, this “review” is true...I enjoyed this book immensely. If you haven't read Carolyn Haines books...be kind to yourself and try her books...you will be very happy you did.
October 21, 2017
The past - and evil - have taken hold of a little girl, whose parents have written to Raissa and Reginald asking for their help. What they find is even more complicated and more dangerous. The plantation's history includes illicit love, broken hearts, and betrayal. Raissa and Reginald must explore the history, protect the child and engage in a battle for Raissa's survival.
Although this is the third in the Pluto's Snitch series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. I haven't yet read the first two but there is enough background that I didn't feel I was missing important information.
Haines' imagery is, as always, very evocative. The reader can feel the sticky heat, the buzz of the bugs, see the light trying to penetrate the trees, hear the hoofbeats of the child's horse, smell the scent of the ghost of Nora Bailey. There are twists and turns galore, along with a strong sense of the history of the South. And plenty of suspense!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, and I hope to read the first two in the series within the next few weeks.
Although this is the third in the Pluto's Snitch series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. I haven't yet read the first two but there is enough background that I didn't feel I was missing important information.
Haines' imagery is, as always, very evocative. The reader can feel the sticky heat, the buzz of the bugs, see the light trying to penetrate the trees, hear the hoofbeats of the child's horse, smell the scent of the ghost of Nora Bailey. There are twists and turns galore, along with a strong sense of the history of the South. And plenty of suspense!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book, and I hope to read the first two in the series within the next few weeks.
November 18, 2017
Raissa James and Reginald Proctor are off on to solve another mysterious problem, this time it is to save Amanda Sheridan, a very young girl from what appears to be a series of problems involving her mental health. Her mother and father seriously need help. A man is found dead in the woods, a man who works for Royal Sheridan, Amanda's father. The sheriff from West Point Mississippi, where the Sheridan family lives hates Royal and pins the murder on him. His wife Anne goes into deep depression and Raissa and Reginald must find the real killer if Amanda is to stay safe and well. Raissa is also in serious danger and Reginald must stay alert and at her side in order to keep her safe. Uncle Bret and her psychic mentor will have to make an appearance in order to save Raissa when the entity at Waverly Mansion tries to take over her body .
I have read all three books in this series and this one does not disappoint. I have also read Carolyn Haines entire series of Sarah Booth Delaney's adventures." The Bones" series. I look forward to the next Book in the "Pluto series". I really like this series
I have read all three books in this series and this one does not disappoint. I have also read Carolyn Haines entire series of Sarah Booth Delaney's adventures." The Bones" series. I look forward to the next Book in the "Pluto series". I really like this series
September 15, 2018
Raissa and Reginald. Loved how these characters were developed. While I love plot, I'm a sucker for a solid character that can carry a series. Carolyn Haines has created a pair with unending potential for a long-lasting series. The unusual time period of 1920 Mississippi captured me right off the pat. The ability to capture remnants of the Civil War and the birth of modernism made for wonderful dialogue, dress, and personality criss-cross. Brilliant. As for this mystery, I did not see some of the twists coming which kept me turning pages. Not having read the earlier books, I enjoyed seeing Uncle Brent and Madam appear instead of just being talked about. All in all an enjoyable read. Enjoyable enough to go back and read the other books. . . and hope that Ms. Haines produces one or two more.
January 28, 2026
I love how Haines weaves factual history into this series. Combining it with the supernatural, it makes for a fantastic read! In this one, Raissa and Reginald are trying to help a couple with their eerily mature daughter, and they suspect possession at the very least. What ends up transpiring is an intricate mystery with so many layers of plot twist that it made my head spin. I'll admit, there are parts that were a bit repetitive and ran long, but the story was fantastic, with curses, summoning of a succubus, old hoodoo, ghosts misplaced and trapped, and some bootlegging to boot.
Favorite Line ~ "One man's cause is another man's prison."
Favorite Random Thing ~ Moonglow the amazing horse
Favorite Line ~ "One man's cause is another man's prison."
Favorite Random Thing ~ Moonglow the amazing horse
November 8, 2017
In this third of the Pluto's Snitch stories, Raissa and Reginald go to the aid of a family who live in an isolated manor in Waverley with a young daughter who is obviously under the spell of a spirit. As the story unfolds, we meet the characters who lived in the house and who are still haunting it with devastating results.
Luckily Raissa and Reginald have the help of Uncle Brett and Isobel with a priest to be able to extort this devilish spirit which has taken hold of Raissa. A scary story, more of a thriller, absolutely breathtaking and you cannot put it down till you get to the end. An exciting sequence in the series with the sleuths becoming more experienced and adventurous.
Luckily Raissa and Reginald have the help of Uncle Brett and Isobel with a priest to be able to extort this devilish spirit which has taken hold of Raissa. A scary story, more of a thriller, absolutely breathtaking and you cannot put it down till you get to the end. An exciting sequence in the series with the sleuths becoming more experienced and adventurous.
November 5, 2017
Reginald and Raissa go to Waverley House to help a young girl, Amanda. Amanda seems to be acting out and appears to act older than she is. Ann and Royal have bought the mansion to renovate it. Royal is a whiskey maker in the Prohibition Era. The mansion is remote and haunted. What possesses the house? A succubus? A demon?
I have enjoyed all the Carolyn Haines books I have read. The Sarah Delaney Booth series is long lived. Pluto’s Snitch is only a year old and hopefully has many more years to go. For those who love cats, don’t miss the Fear Familiar and Familiar’s Legacy series.
I have enjoyed all the Carolyn Haines books I have read. The Sarah Delaney Booth series is long lived. Pluto’s Snitch is only a year old and hopefully has many more years to go. For those who love cats, don’t miss the Fear Familiar and Familiar’s Legacy series.
November 5, 2017
Atmospheric!
This story wastes no time in pulling you backward to 1920 Mississippi, straight to a run down, haunted, antebellum mansion. Surrounded by thick woods and occupied by a family determined to restore it to glory, Waverley may also be home to unfriendly spirits attempting to control the family's young daughter. Raissa and Reginald, principals of Pluto's Snitch detective agency, are summoned to discover how and why. It's a race to save the Sheridan's, Waverley and themselves.
Paranormal fans will not want to put this story down. The best news--this is Book 2 in a series.
This story wastes no time in pulling you backward to 1920 Mississippi, straight to a run down, haunted, antebellum mansion. Surrounded by thick woods and occupied by a family determined to restore it to glory, Waverley may also be home to unfriendly spirits attempting to control the family's young daughter. Raissa and Reginald, principals of Pluto's Snitch detective agency, are summoned to discover how and why. It's a race to save the Sheridan's, Waverley and themselves.
Paranormal fans will not want to put this story down. The best news--this is Book 2 in a series.
November 16, 2017
Pluto's Snitch Book 3
This is the most complicated story for Raissa and Reginald so far. It combines confederate history and the paranormal. I enjoyed the book and look forward to book 4.
Pluto's Snitch is a far darker cozy mystery series than most. It is well written and well researched. The narrative is so well written, I can see the characters and the settings. Ms Haines knows how to spin a story to draw the reader in.
This is the most complicated story for Raissa and Reginald so far. It combines confederate history and the paranormal. I enjoyed the book and look forward to book 4.
Pluto's Snitch is a far darker cozy mystery series than most. It is well written and well researched. The narrative is so well written, I can see the characters and the settings. Ms Haines knows how to spin a story to draw the reader in.
November 8, 2017
Carolyn Haines does not disappoint with "The Specter of Seduction". I was hooked from the beginning! The characters are well developed and very relatable. I would highly recommend this book for an escape from your own reality.
I received an ARC and voluntarily read and reviewed it. Upon finishing this book, I bought the first two......I just needed more Raissa and Reginald!
I received an ARC and voluntarily read and reviewed it. Upon finishing this book, I bought the first two......I just needed more Raissa and Reginald!
November 13, 2017
Once again, Carolyn Haines does not disappoint in the third book in the Pluto’s Snitch series! Spooky, intriguing, and hard to put down! Great to see continued character development. I really enjoyed the story and trying to figure out what was causing the disturbance at the home Raisa was investigating. Can’t wait for the fourth!
November 20, 2017
This series has a lot of potential and I️ have liked the previous books, but this one fell flat. Lots of holes in the plot, and the events felt very similar to the book before. I️ was greatly disappointed. However, I️ will definitely read the next in the series. I️ like the characters and the supernatural mystery aspect.
July 10, 2018
I like the characters: Raissa, Reginald, Madame, Uncle Brett & Isobel.
I like the mystery.
Other things don’t always add up or seem right for this time period. And why does Raissa keep going into the attics of these houses alone after a paragraph or more describing her fear of these spirits? Reginald always wants to go with her but she persists and then narrowly escapes.
I like the mystery.
Other things don’t always add up or seem right for this time period. And why does Raissa keep going into the attics of these houses alone after a paragraph or more describing her fear of these spirits? Reginald always wants to go with her but she persists and then narrowly escapes.
November 3, 2017
This book is Southern Gothic at it's best. The atmosphere is vivid, the characters both terrifying and believable, and the pacing is such that the reader is drawn into a world from which they cannot, and do not want to escape. In my opinion, this is the best one so far in a very good series.
November 17, 2017
Keep the lights on and look over your shoulder...
Could not put this book down. I had to look over my shoulder a few times but had to keep reading. A great and terrifying book. I can't wait for the next one!
Could not put this book down. I had to look over my shoulder a few times but had to keep reading. A great and terrifying book. I can't wait for the next one!
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