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THE SPIDER HOUSE: A Madam Celeste Mystery
Madam Celeste is back! This story includes spirits who need her psychotherapy skills as much as her psychic abilities. Is there a Skinwalker in Bella View? Is Emma ready to lead her own seance? And what's up with all the spiders? Even the bug guy seems a little nervous.
321 pages, Paperback
Published June 2, 2019
5 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Linda Anthony Hill
20 books33 followersAward winning author, Linda Anthony Hill, writes ghost stories. She has a series of children's chapter books. She has also written an award winning novel called The Anchor is the Key. And a novella available on Kindle called Hill House Manor:The Early Years.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 2, 2020
The Spider House is the second book in the 'Madam Celeste Mystery' series written by Linda Anthony Hill. I read the first book last year and enjoyed it, but this second one is much stronger and freaked me out a few times. While it's a cozy mystery without any gore or true horror, the descriptions of the spiders and paranormal events were strong enough that the perfect ambiance was created and set a spooky mood. Kudos to the author for making this one shine so brightly.
Celeste is a medium in Texas. She's fairly well-known but keeps to herself. Her assistant, Emma, takes the lead in this book when a friend of Celeste's asks for help with a weird event occurring at a house she inherited. Spiders are everywhere, but when the paranormal team explores the property, something frightening happens. Grey wolves, weird neighbors, Native American connections, huge spiders, and visiting apparitions. At least one of them is lying, but Emma can't sort through all the voices and mis-communication between the paranormal team and the ghosts. What is really going on here?
While I enjoyed the first book enough to want to read the second, it doesn't compare to the evolution and improvement in this latest one. Everything in this story worked perfectly together, and I found myself unable to put it down. Hill's constant flips on the spiders was fantastic. Were they real or just visions? How big were they? How did they keep coming back even after extermination? The answers were there, just hidden well... at the same time, it's also quite obvious. I'm not spoiling anything either because the real story is layers deeper, and you will get some goosebumps with this one.
Subtle humor and strong character personalities make this book work. Even if you're not into ghosts or paranormal behavior, you will probably still enjoy the series. It has all the elements of a solid mystery, except some of the characters aren't technically alive anymore. They have voices, provide clues, mislead you, and offer a few moments of levity. I recommend the series... but also know you can read them as stand-alone novels. Definitely in the 4.5 to 5 star range for me.
Celeste is a medium in Texas. She's fairly well-known but keeps to herself. Her assistant, Emma, takes the lead in this book when a friend of Celeste's asks for help with a weird event occurring at a house she inherited. Spiders are everywhere, but when the paranormal team explores the property, something frightening happens. Grey wolves, weird neighbors, Native American connections, huge spiders, and visiting apparitions. At least one of them is lying, but Emma can't sort through all the voices and mis-communication between the paranormal team and the ghosts. What is really going on here?
While I enjoyed the first book enough to want to read the second, it doesn't compare to the evolution and improvement in this latest one. Everything in this story worked perfectly together, and I found myself unable to put it down. Hill's constant flips on the spiders was fantastic. Were they real or just visions? How big were they? How did they keep coming back even after extermination? The answers were there, just hidden well... at the same time, it's also quite obvious. I'm not spoiling anything either because the real story is layers deeper, and you will get some goosebumps with this one.
Subtle humor and strong character personalities make this book work. Even if you're not into ghosts or paranormal behavior, you will probably still enjoy the series. It has all the elements of a solid mystery, except some of the characters aren't technically alive anymore. They have voices, provide clues, mislead you, and offer a few moments of levity. I recommend the series... but also know you can read them as stand-alone novels. Definitely in the 4.5 to 5 star range for me.
August 31, 2019
The Spider House by Linda Anthony Hill is the second book in her Madam Celeste Mysteries series. I have to say that for me this book is a vast improvement over the first book that I read by this author. Her first book felt a bit dry for me, and I struggled a bit to get through it, but this book is leaps and bounds better in comparison. From the beginning, the author engaged me into the storyline and had me page-turning through the mystery, the drama, and the suspense.
The author gave me a young woman looking through her old home for some things and feels something is there. There is...huge spiders that her brother let loose in the house that gradually took over after his tragic death and the mother vacating the house due to the memories attached to it. But the author shows that there is also a spiritual presence in the house, and it doesn't like people snooping around. While this story says it is a "Madame Celeste" novel, I don't feel that she plays a huge role in this book. The author instead chooses to focus on Emma her new apprentice. Emma takes center stage in the majority of this novel as she works on her abilities as a psychic and helping a group of friends discover what exactly is going on at this young lady's (Cheryl) house. Emma is an interesting character and it's nice getting to know more about her and her abilities. The mystery and suspense really drives this novel and I enjoy it very much. Now, there is a murder in this novel, but it takes time getting to it and I felt that the murder was more of a branch off/side storyline than the main focus of the novel.
While I enjoyed this book I do have to admit that there were a couple things I didn't like. I was a bit disappointed that the story focuses so much on Emma. I was expecting more of Madam Celeste than I got since it is a "Madam Celeste" mystery and not an "apprentice Emma" mystery novel. The author drops hints here and there that Madam Celeste has quite a bit going on, but we only get glimpses of her work with clients and teases when it comes to her relationship(s). There are some editorial errors scattered throughout the book as well, but they aren't so egregious that they are a total distraction from the storyline.
I have to admit that despite my complaints I am quite pleased with this book. I am rating it 4.5 out of 5 stars. The storyline will pull you into the book and have you page-turning as the characters work to learn about the spirits that lurk about the house, the mysterious goings-on outside around the property, and you get a touch of romance as well. For those who enjoy paranormal mysteries, this is a good book to pick up. If you love a good mystery with an unexpected twist or three then I highly recommend that you pick this book up. I look forward to reading this author again in the future.
The author gave me a young woman looking through her old home for some things and feels something is there. There is...huge spiders that her brother let loose in the house that gradually took over after his tragic death and the mother vacating the house due to the memories attached to it. But the author shows that there is also a spiritual presence in the house, and it doesn't like people snooping around. While this story says it is a "Madame Celeste" novel, I don't feel that she plays a huge role in this book. The author instead chooses to focus on Emma her new apprentice. Emma takes center stage in the majority of this novel as she works on her abilities as a psychic and helping a group of friends discover what exactly is going on at this young lady's (Cheryl) house. Emma is an interesting character and it's nice getting to know more about her and her abilities. The mystery and suspense really drives this novel and I enjoy it very much. Now, there is a murder in this novel, but it takes time getting to it and I felt that the murder was more of a branch off/side storyline than the main focus of the novel.
While I enjoyed this book I do have to admit that there were a couple things I didn't like. I was a bit disappointed that the story focuses so much on Emma. I was expecting more of Madam Celeste than I got since it is a "Madam Celeste" mystery and not an "apprentice Emma" mystery novel. The author drops hints here and there that Madam Celeste has quite a bit going on, but we only get glimpses of her work with clients and teases when it comes to her relationship(s). There are some editorial errors scattered throughout the book as well, but they aren't so egregious that they are a total distraction from the storyline.
I have to admit that despite my complaints I am quite pleased with this book. I am rating it 4.5 out of 5 stars. The storyline will pull you into the book and have you page-turning as the characters work to learn about the spirits that lurk about the house, the mysterious goings-on outside around the property, and you get a touch of romance as well. For those who enjoy paranormal mysteries, this is a good book to pick up. If you love a good mystery with an unexpected twist or three then I highly recommend that you pick this book up. I look forward to reading this author again in the future.
August 30, 2019
The Spider House is the 2nd book in the Madam Celeste Mystery series. I have to say that I thought is was better than the first book. This book had a mystery that was really different and complex. A story to keep you guessing all the way to the very end.
Madam Celeste was not the main character in this paticular book. Her assistant Emma and her new client Cheryl, were the main focus. Cheryl wanted to clear her house of the spooky happenings so that she may one day live there. Being Emma’s first case, she winds up being in the middle of something bigger than just a haunted house.
This book introduces us to new characters and brings back some old. I was a tad disappointed that Madam Celeste love life didn’t get much attention this go round, but Emma embarks on a new romance and it was sweet and endearing to follow. I really enjoyed this new group of characters and instantly liked them all.
This book I thought was a bit more on the serious and dangerous side. With mutant spiders and the big bad wolf, this book is sure to make the hairs on you neck stand up with fear. I loved how the story developed at a steady pace and did not rush to get to the end. It was dangerous for Emma and the gang. But have faith as they will solve this mystery, but not with out some close calls and loss.
If you love all things that go bump in the night, then this book will be right up your ally. With spiders, wolves, psychics and crazy murderers on the loose you won’t be bored. A thriller in it’s own right this book is sure to be the perfect Halloween read!
Madam Celeste was not the main character in this paticular book. Her assistant Emma and her new client Cheryl, were the main focus. Cheryl wanted to clear her house of the spooky happenings so that she may one day live there. Being Emma’s first case, she winds up being in the middle of something bigger than just a haunted house.
This book introduces us to new characters and brings back some old. I was a tad disappointed that Madam Celeste love life didn’t get much attention this go round, but Emma embarks on a new romance and it was sweet and endearing to follow. I really enjoyed this new group of characters and instantly liked them all.
This book I thought was a bit more on the serious and dangerous side. With mutant spiders and the big bad wolf, this book is sure to make the hairs on you neck stand up with fear. I loved how the story developed at a steady pace and did not rush to get to the end. It was dangerous for Emma and the gang. But have faith as they will solve this mystery, but not with out some close calls and loss.
If you love all things that go bump in the night, then this book will be right up your ally. With spiders, wolves, psychics and crazy murderers on the loose you won’t be bored. A thriller in it’s own right this book is sure to be the perfect Halloween read!
August 27, 2019
Linda Anthony Hill has written another great installment to the Madam Celeste series! The Spider House has a lot more of Celeste's assistant Emma, there is a really strong mother/daughter bond and I absolutely love Celeste and Emma as a team! The mystery surrounds Cheryl and young woman's family home, while visiting the vacant house to find documents for her mother, Cheryl experiences that she believes to be paranormal activity and an ungodly amount of spider webs. She contacts friends to help her do an investigation, they set up cameras and recording equipment, which seems to do more to awaken the spirits and the spiders that have built their home there. As the experiences intensify, the team determines that they need to call in professionals, Robert, the self appointed leader, puts in a call to Madam Celeste. Celeste is as close to a local celebrity as they come, and was booked solid for weeks, but Emma had some time free and needs to work to hone her abilities, so she suggests she take on the case for free, and if they need help, they can call in Celeste. Everyone is seeing things that shouldn't be there, hearing and not hearing things, and feeling things in the house and the spiders are enormous! It doesn't take long before the group calls in their first professional help, by way of a tracking specialist and an exterminator. It won't be long til they are calling in Madam Celeste as well.
I really enjoyed this book, Emma does a great job taking the lead, and Celeste is a wonderful teacher! I liked the group of friends who were working the case as well. Though there did seem to be a lot of back and forth between the house and group meetings with very little progress that slowed the book down a little bit, the characters were all becoming better friends, which I think could be very beneficial in future books, to have a good base of characters that we have met before becoming recurring guests, becoming family. I can't wait for the next book in the series! I recommend that you read this cozy mystery, but suggest reading the first book, The Anchor is the Key, to get to know the characters!
I really enjoyed this book, Emma does a great job taking the lead, and Celeste is a wonderful teacher! I liked the group of friends who were working the case as well. Though there did seem to be a lot of back and forth between the house and group meetings with very little progress that slowed the book down a little bit, the characters were all becoming better friends, which I think could be very beneficial in future books, to have a good base of characters that we have met before becoming recurring guests, becoming family. I can't wait for the next book in the series! I recommend that you read this cozy mystery, but suggest reading the first book, The Anchor is the Key, to get to know the characters!
September 2, 2019
This is the second book in the Madam Celeste Mystery series, and this book concentrates more on her apprentice, Emma. Hoping to continue improving hr psychic skills, Emma volunteers to help Cheryl and her friends with an apparently haunted house...one which Cheryl and her mother abandoned shortly after the boating accident that claimed the life of Cheryl's father and brother. Not only is the house apparently haunted, but it is filled with spider webs and incredibly large spiders. As Emma joins Cheryl and her friends, including paranormal investigator, Robert, they are inundated by haunted happenings in the house, not the least of which are the spiders. Will Madame Celeste have to join in this investigation or will the ghosts prove too much even for her skills? I enjoyed many of the possible hauntings explanations posited in this story, especially with their references to the Supernatural TV series (a favorite of mine). I was definitely creeped out by the spiders and their antics. I was a little put off in the beginning by the number of characters introduced in this story and had some difficulty keeping them all straight. I also wish some of the characters were more fully developed. Finally, I was disappointed by the relationship between Emma and Madame Celeste...at times it almost felt antagonistic, and Emma herself seemed very immature. But having said that, I definitely want to try another story in this series and see how these relationships develop. Disclosure: I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are strictly my own.
September 1, 2019
Those who have a phobia of spiders or of the supernatural, beware! The second book in the Madam Celeste series written by Linda Anthony Hill is all sorts of creepy and will give you a good case of the heebie jeebies! Madam Celeste, Emma, and Paul too are back on the case after a friend’s daughter needs her help to find out why her childhood home has been taken over by spider webs, especially when there are other strange things that have happened that can’t be explained. Madam Celeste gives Emma the reins for this case to help her better develop her witchy abilities, but after Emma hits a wall, Madam Celeste gets involved to figure out just what in the world, or what out of this world, is going on. I really enjoy cozy mysteries with a paranormal focus, and this one kept my interest until the very end. Very engaging, lots of eerie things happening, with a wide array of interesting characters...witches, wolves, a weirdo neighbor, ghosts, psychics...all of what make up an intriguing and page-turning paranormal mystery. I love the camaraderie, friendship, and mentorship between Madam Celeste and Emma, the humor in this book, and can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderful series!
I received an ARC of this book, and all comments and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book, and all comments and opinions are my own.
September 2, 2019
The Spider House is the second installment of the Madam Celeste mystery series by Linda Anthony Hill. I have not yet read the first book, but this book is easy to follow for those new to the series. When Cheryl goes back to her abandoned family home to retrieve some needed paperwork, she finds the house filled with spiderwebs as well as a feeling something else is lurking. She returns with some friends on a sort of amateur ghost hunting expedition and things really get creepy as the paranormal seems to be aroused in the house. Madame Celeste is contacted, but due to her busy schedule her apprentice Emma steps in. There are a lot of interesting paranormal and spiritual happenings in this book. The spiders, ghosts, wolves, and witches will keep you entranced to the end. It is a story that draws you in right from the start and keeps your attention until the end. I will definitely be reading the first book in this series and looking forward to future installments. I am especially anxious to see more of the evolving relationship between Madame Celeste and Emma.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my honest opinion.
September 5, 2019
The Spider House is the second book in the Madame Celeste mystery series and I hadn't read the first one. It does hold itself as a stand alone and I wouldn't think you'd need to read the first one to understand the story. In this one, Emma is the main character who tries to bring her gift and solve the mystery of the Spider House. Ghosts, Spiders, Witches, and more bring the story to life giving this assistant a run for her money. Madame Celeste makes her appearance once the team is stumped and are in need of help from the professional. Plenty of twists to keep you engaged throughout the book with a great ending I wouldn't dare spoil. I did enjoy the plot and thought it was delivered well. There were moments of unnecessary dialogue which could be cut but not a huge deal. Overall, I'd recommend this read to anyone wanting a Paranormal Cozy Mystery to liven up their bookshelf.
I received an ARC of this book and all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book and all opinions are my own.
September 2, 2019
Author untangles mysterious webs in The Spider House.
There are a lot of strange goings on in Cheryl's childhood home and surroundings. Paranormal, ghosts, witches, shapeshifters, huge spiders, the list goes on.
Cheryl brings in Madam Celeste and her apprentice, Emma to help figure things out. Also friends who happen to be amateur ghost hunters.
Linda Anthony Hill does an excellent job of describing the actual process of ghost hunting. I found that quite interesting and believable.
As a fan of cozy ghost mysteries, I was enthralled with The Spider House and highly recommend to those who enjoy paranormal cozies.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are a lot of strange goings on in Cheryl's childhood home and surroundings. Paranormal, ghosts, witches, shapeshifters, huge spiders, the list goes on.
Cheryl brings in Madam Celeste and her apprentice, Emma to help figure things out. Also friends who happen to be amateur ghost hunters.
Linda Anthony Hill does an excellent job of describing the actual process of ghost hunting. I found that quite interesting and believable.
As a fan of cozy ghost mysteries, I was enthralled with The Spider House and highly recommend to those who enjoy paranormal cozies.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2019
The Spider House is the second installment of the Madam Celeste mysteries. The story stands alone very well. Emma is learning from Madam Celeste how to use her gift of seeing spirits. Her first case on her own has many layers and Emma needs Madame Celeste's help. Ms. Hill writes very relatable characters and her story flows very smoothly. Parts of the story are like a back stage pass to a paranormal hunting television program. Humor, paranormal activities, a touch of romance and suspense come together in a very enjoyable story. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 31, 2019
An interesting matchup – Physics that talk and see ghosts in addition to working together to solve mysteries. I was a little skeptical, but I can honestly say that I did enjoy the book. The main characters are an interesting pair and I will be looking forward to future Madame Celeste books to see what happens with them.
September 2, 2019
The Spider House is the 2nd book in the Madam Celeste mystery series. The series is a paranormal cozy mystery series. I did not read the first book so you can read this as a stand alone book. Madam Celeste is a psychic and Emma, her apprentice, is a college student. Cheryl goes to her family's uninhabited home and discovers that it is full of spiders. She enlists the help of her friends to go back to the house with her. They begin to think that there is paranormal activity going on in the house and call on Emma & Madam Celeste to also help. I enjoy a good cozy mystery but I didn't find this book to be entertaining. I thought that the premise of the story was good but the characters felt very one dimensional and I didn't feel like you really don't learn anything about their personalities. The plot did not grab my attention and I kept thinking that there should be more. This is not a book that I would recommend.
September 2, 2019
This was such a great book! Madame Celeste and her apprentice Emma are back...they are called in to help investigate a creepy, spider-infested house. Emma takes the lead this time, and I enjoyed learning more about her and seeing her grow as a character. There is a lot more going on than immediately meets the eye in The Spider House. I liked the new characters, and how they each seemed individual enough that I had no problem keeping everyone straight. I hope that at least some of them become regulars in future investigations.
The mystery was wonderful, as well. I liked that the heroine doesn't stumble upon a murder in the first chapter and try to solve it, as in most cozies. Instead, the group is trying to figure out what is causing the paranormal events in the house. I appreciate how this book is different from a lot of other cozies.
Also, there are A LOT of paranormal elements in this book, which is a plus. Some paranormal cozies are basically regular cozies with a small paranormal aspect, but this book really focuses on the supernatural. Highly recommended!
The mystery was wonderful, as well. I liked that the heroine doesn't stumble upon a murder in the first chapter and try to solve it, as in most cozies. Instead, the group is trying to figure out what is causing the paranormal events in the house. I appreciate how this book is different from a lot of other cozies.
Also, there are A LOT of paranormal elements in this book, which is a plus. Some paranormal cozies are basically regular cozies with a small paranormal aspect, but this book really focuses on the supernatural. Highly recommended!
August 10, 2019
This book had me turning pages with vigor trying to see what incredible thing was going to happen next. With strong characters, paranormal anomalies, hallucinations, wolves, crazy neighbors, strange visions and confused spirits we are treated to a twisted, and at times hair raising paranormal cozy mystery with all the elements necessary to make this second book in the series a winner. Madam Celeste, a well known medium with many talents at solving mysteries in the past and her assistant/student, Emma along with their spirit helper, Paul are called upon by Cheryl the daughter of a friend to find out why her childhood home is being invaded by spiders and strange events. Cheryl puts together a paranormal investigation team and finds they need some real help, Madam Celeste lets Emma take the lead. Madam Celeste has faith in Emma in that she finds Emma may even have some stronger abilities in the witch way than she, but needs to learn how to use them and feels this case may be the one to help her abilities move along. But when even Emma gets stumped and can't put the crazy evens together, Madam Celeste finds she must also get involved. With lots of twists and turns, dead ends and crazy events, you can't help but turn page after page until the end...and what an ending! This is a really good series and I look forward to even more! I received and ARC but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
August 16, 2019
The title says it all, a house of spiders! The homestead had been empty for years and was filled with spiders, very vivid descriptions of the inside causing me to brush away cobwebs as I read. As the story unfolds you discover the how and why of their origin along with a family history.
Not my usual genre but still a fun read. There are various mysteries to figure out and the book kept me guessing.
Interesting characters that demand more books in this series!!
Not my usual genre but still a fun read. There are various mysteries to figure out and the book kept me guessing.
Interesting characters that demand more books in this series!!
August 12, 2019
I seriously cannot get enough of Madam Celeste and her assistant Emma!! This was such an interesting story and I had a really hard time putting the book down! What would you do if you went to the house you grew up in trying to find some paperwork your mother needs and the house is covered in spider webs?? Yup, call Madam Celeste!! This mystery was a great learning experience for her assistant Emma. I don't want to go too far into it because you definitely have to read it to get the full effect! I can't wait for the next exciting mystery!!
August 8, 2019
This is an interesting story about a group of people trying to solve the mystery of a house full of giant spiders. When they realize there is more going on then just the spiders they enlist the help of a pair of psychics. It’s well written and there are a number of plot twists. Unfortunately I never really felt any connection to the characters so I didn’t feel personally involved in the book.
August 22, 2019
🕷🕷🕸🕷🕷🐺🐺🕷🕷🕸🕷🕷
Spiders, spider webs, spirits, seances,
strange visions, wolf prints, twisted
neighbors mix with hallucinations plus
paranormal activities presents a
challenge to Celeste (the psychic),
Emma (Celeste’s apprentice)and Paul
(their spirit helper).
When Cheryl returns to her family home
which has sat abandoned since her
father’s death, she walks into a house
full of cobwebs and spiders that seem
to change size.
What is happening? This is a case for
Madam Celeste, Emma & Paul.
Come along on an unique, out of the
ordinary adventure with an array of well
casted, intriguing, colorful, multifaceted
characters.
This was plotted with suspense, intrigue
and complexity
This is book # 2 in A Madam Celeste
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand
alone as the writer blends the past and
present together effortlessly.
I volunteered to read The Spider House.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew
for the opportunity. My opinion is my voluntary
and my own.
Spiders, spider webs, spirits, seances,
strange visions, wolf prints, twisted
neighbors mix with hallucinations plus
paranormal activities presents a
challenge to Celeste (the psychic),
Emma (Celeste’s apprentice)and Paul
(their spirit helper).
When Cheryl returns to her family home
which has sat abandoned since her
father’s death, she walks into a house
full of cobwebs and spiders that seem
to change size.
What is happening? This is a case for
Madam Celeste, Emma & Paul.
Come along on an unique, out of the
ordinary adventure with an array of well
casted, intriguing, colorful, multifaceted
characters.
This was plotted with suspense, intrigue
and complexity
This is book # 2 in A Madam Celeste
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand
alone as the writer blends the past and
present together effortlessly.
I volunteered to read The Spider House.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew
for the opportunity. My opinion is my voluntary
and my own.
September 3, 2019
Ms. Hill capacity to weave spiritualism into paranormal in The Spider House truly is one of a kind. The story keeps you on your toes (and questioning if you might have some spirits in your house), allowing the mystery to unfold as a slow burn. I would highly recommend this book to indivuals who are familiar and comfortable with paranormal or psychics, as reading the first book may provide more context to those that are new to spirits like Paul.* This book remains very clean and aboveboard, allowing the YA audience an opportunity to read it without concern, but will keep all audiences engaged and interested. I recommend, but would recommend reading all of the Madam Celeste mysteries to further character development and inform you as the reader!
*Side note: Paul is a hoot and probably my favorite character
*Side note: Paul is a hoot and probably my favorite character
September 25, 2019
How big is that spider?
Interesting group of characters,
including an exterminator. I feel like I could hang out with them. At times the focus is more on them than the psychics. I enjoy paranormal mysteries. This one has ghost hunting and later on a wolf. Original theme of ghost and spider connection and mass hallucinations caused by ghosts. Yeah, the spiders are creepy and possibly really big.
I liked reading about the psychics and their research into what they thought was causing problems at the house. Could it be a demon or is there a skinwalker? It was suspenseful.
I also read the first book in the series and I'd be interested in reading more of them. I'd recommend this to cozy fans who are looking for a different type of mystery.
Interesting group of characters,
including an exterminator. I feel like I could hang out with them. At times the focus is more on them than the psychics. I enjoy paranormal mysteries. This one has ghost hunting and later on a wolf. Original theme of ghost and spider connection and mass hallucinations caused by ghosts. Yeah, the spiders are creepy and possibly really big.
I liked reading about the psychics and their research into what they thought was causing problems at the house. Could it be a demon or is there a skinwalker? It was suspenseful.
I also read the first book in the series and I'd be interested in reading more of them. I'd recommend this to cozy fans who are looking for a different type of mystery.
August 19, 2019
This is a cozy mystery in that there are amateur sleuths and little to no gore, but it is also a very creepy story. If you are afraid of spiders, don't read this one. There are spiders everywhere! Also a very strong paranormal presence. I was pleasantly surprised with the paranormal elements. There were multiple ghosts and we weren't sure of their motives. Also a creepy neighbor and possible wolf sightings. This is a really strong book. Interesting, fast paced and well written. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a free copy from the Cozy Mystery Review Crew in exchange for my honest opinion
I received a free copy from the Cozy Mystery Review Crew in exchange for my honest opinion
January 21, 2021
The Spider House is a follow-up book to The Anchor is the Key by Linda Anthony Hill.
You can read this as a standalone book, but if you want more background on Madam Celeste and Paul, read The Anchor is the Key as well.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the story was interesting. It definitely had spooky moments and lots of spiders.
I look forward to seeing what is up next for Madam Celeste, Emma, and Paul.
I received this book as a gift and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
You can read this as a standalone book, but if you want more background on Madam Celeste and Paul, read The Anchor is the Key as well.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the story was interesting. It definitely had spooky moments and lots of spiders.
I look forward to seeing what is up next for Madam Celeste, Emma, and Paul.
I received this book as a gift and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
August 24, 2019
This was a good and intriguing mystery. At times it made my skin crawl. I will honestly never look at a spider the same way again. This is the second book in a series, and while I didn't read the first one I had no problem jumping right in and didn't feel like I was missing anything. However, I did feel like all of the characters were introduced at one time and I had a hard time keeping them all straight. But all in all it was a good mystery.
October 8, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only and with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
The Spider House is a paranormal cosy mystery, featuring psychic Madam Celeste and her apprentice, Emma, investigating a house haunted by ghostly spirits and, guess what else… spiders!
This is the second Madam Celeste book, but you don’t need to have read the first in order to follow what is going on.
From the blurb, I expected Emma to be the main character, but in fact she shares the narrative with Cheryl, the owner of the haunted house. The story starts with Cheryl and her friends attempting a paranormal investigation and being scared away by spiders the size of small dogs (trigger warning for arachnophobes!) and strange events: noises, objects moving, lights.
They eventually call in Emma and Madam Celeste, who are able to shed more light on what is going on and begin the investigation proper. There are plenty of mysteries to be solved, both in and outside the house and even some romance along the way.
I felt that there wasn’t much detail or development of the characters, and with quite a few of them popping in and out of the storyline it made it a little difficult to really get immersed in the book. I also felt that some of the dialogue was a little stilted and didn’t add much to the story.
Fans of classic ‘mild’ B-movie horror like Arachnophobia will enjoy this spooky ghost (and more!) story, especially in the run-up to Halloween!
A strange noise came from the corner of the room. It was loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to startle. it sounded like something shuffling. Gawd, does this place have mice, too?
She swept through the dark room with the broom in hopes of clearing all the spider webs from her path. not curious enough about the noise to investigate, she was getting a little creeped out by the webs, the dark, and the noise. She worked her way back to the door, which was now open. She didn’t remember leaving it open… Had she let a small animal in? Dang! Now I’ll have to investigate!
– Linda Anthony Hill, The Spider House
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
The Spider House is a paranormal cosy mystery, featuring psychic Madam Celeste and her apprentice, Emma, investigating a house haunted by ghostly spirits and, guess what else… spiders!
This is the second Madam Celeste book, but you don’t need to have read the first in order to follow what is going on.
From the blurb, I expected Emma to be the main character, but in fact she shares the narrative with Cheryl, the owner of the haunted house. The story starts with Cheryl and her friends attempting a paranormal investigation and being scared away by spiders the size of small dogs (trigger warning for arachnophobes!) and strange events: noises, objects moving, lights.
They eventually call in Emma and Madam Celeste, who are able to shed more light on what is going on and begin the investigation proper. There are plenty of mysteries to be solved, both in and outside the house and even some romance along the way.
I felt that there wasn’t much detail or development of the characters, and with quite a few of them popping in and out of the storyline it made it a little difficult to really get immersed in the book. I also felt that some of the dialogue was a little stilted and didn’t add much to the story.
Fans of classic ‘mild’ B-movie horror like Arachnophobia will enjoy this spooky ghost (and more!) story, especially in the run-up to Halloween!
A strange noise came from the corner of the room. It was loud enough to hear, but not loud enough to startle. it sounded like something shuffling. Gawd, does this place have mice, too?
She swept through the dark room with the broom in hopes of clearing all the spider webs from her path. not curious enough about the noise to investigate, she was getting a little creeped out by the webs, the dark, and the noise. She worked her way back to the door, which was now open. She didn’t remember leaving it open… Had she let a small animal in? Dang! Now I’ll have to investigate!
– Linda Anthony Hill, The Spider House
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 30, 2019
"The Spider House", Book 2 in the Madame Celeste mystery series, is definitely another home run for author Linda Anthony Hill! While it is a paranormal cozy mystery, it is so much more. The typical paranormal cozy features a main character who is a witch, or psychic, or some such, but the supernatural element is fairly limited. In "The Spider House", the fact that Madame Celeste and Emma are psychics is the key feature of the entire story. The mystery (or should I say mysteries?) was/were solved almost entirely through paranormal investigation.
Another element that makes this book unique within the cozy genre is that is brings in a nice cast of secondary characters who are ALSO key players in figuring out what is actually going on in the title house. They are a group of young fans of ghost hunter-type shows who are excited to try their hands at their own investigation when strange things begin happening at a friend's house. The relationships among the friends, as well as between them and Madame Celeste/Emma, add an interesting element to the story.
The mystery itself is intriguing, primarily because much of it is paranormal in nature. The police don't even get involved at all until late in the story, when something physical happens and they are contacted.
And the ending...WOW! It was surprising, while still making perfect sense given everything the reader learned throughout the book. And one element of the ending was NOT something you normally see in a cozy...I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
All in all, this was a delightful (due to its uniqueness) and enjoyable (due to its great plot and characters) mystery. I eagerly await Book 3 to read more about Madame Celeste, Emma, and their future adventures.
Five out of five sun-warmed chunks of Gouda!
Another element that makes this book unique within the cozy genre is that is brings in a nice cast of secondary characters who are ALSO key players in figuring out what is actually going on in the title house. They are a group of young fans of ghost hunter-type shows who are excited to try their hands at their own investigation when strange things begin happening at a friend's house. The relationships among the friends, as well as between them and Madame Celeste/Emma, add an interesting element to the story.
The mystery itself is intriguing, primarily because much of it is paranormal in nature. The police don't even get involved at all until late in the story, when something physical happens and they are contacted.
And the ending...WOW! It was surprising, while still making perfect sense given everything the reader learned throughout the book. And one element of the ending was NOT something you normally see in a cozy...I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
All in all, this was a delightful (due to its uniqueness) and enjoyable (due to its great plot and characters) mystery. I eagerly await Book 3 to read more about Madame Celeste, Emma, and their future adventures.
Five out of five sun-warmed chunks of Gouda!
September 14, 2019
I am really enjoying reading this book as the characters capture the need to continue to find out what’s going to happen next.
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